The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is pleased to share a National Organic Program (NOP) Policy Memo on Chlorine Use in Egg Breaking Facilities.  We also want to alert you to several fraudulent organic certificates.

This policy memo clarifies requirements for the use of chlorine in egg breaking facilities.  It more closely aligns NOP policy on the use of chlorine materials allowed in organic production and handling with Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations regarding sanitizing of eggs that are further processed.

View NOP Policy Memo 14-2

Fraudulent organic certificates listing the following business are in use and have recently been reported to the National Organic Program (NOP):

Maguay Agave PTY LTD

Fraudulent certificates may have been created and used without the knowledge of the operator or the certifying agent named in a certificate. The posting of fraudulent certificates does not necessarily mean that the named operator or certifying agent was involved in illegal activity. If an operation named in a fraudulent certificate is certified, its certifying agent identified in the list of certified operations can provide additional information and verifications to the organic trade.

The vigilance of the organic community is a vital force in ensuring organic integrity. Organic handlers should continue to review certificates carefully, validate with their certifying agents where needed, and send any suspicious certificates to the NOP Compliance and Enforcement team.

Any use of this certificate or other fraudulent documents to market, label, or sell non-organic agricultural products as organic can result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000 per violation.

Persons with information regarding the production or use of this or other fraudulent NOP certificates are asked to send information to the NOP Compliance and Enforcement Division.